MISSION STATEMENT

THE AMERICAN SINGLE MALT WHISKEY COMMISSION SERVES TO

ESTABLISH, PROMOTE AND PROTECT

THE CATEGORY OF

AMERICAN SINGLE MALT WHISKEY

DECLARATION

of

PURPOSE

The American Single Malt Whiskey Commission (ASMWC) has been formed in response to the growing need for American-based producers to define the category—both domestically and internationally—in order to protect, educate, promote and ultimately grow it.

Category recognition starts here, at this moment. We cannot share our vision for what American Single Malt Whiskey (ASMW) can be as a category if there is no consensus amongst ourselves as to what it is that defines us. Coming together as a group to collectively certify a vision for the future allows us to take the next step together, as a unified front. The combined force of a growing number of ASMW producers in the United States can then be brought to bear to address our shared mandates, the most pressing of which is a Standard of Identity.

Formulating, proposing and securing a Standard of Identity for ASMW simultaneously establishes a bulwark against parties that do not favor producers or consumers and builds a base from which the category can grow. The potential exists—whether from foreign single malt producers, producers of other American whiskey products (such as bourbon), or other special interests—to either oppose the category’s creation outright or prescribe a category definition that does not accurately reflect the intentions of producers or needs of consumers. In coming together to own and defend the formal definition of our category, we’ll have the foundational components with which to undertake coordinated education programs.

Consumer education is necessary for the category to succeed. First and foremost, we believe that by securing a formal Standard of Identity, consumers will benefit from a further understanding of how single malt whiskies are produced in this country. This establishes trust in the category itself and helps consumers make well-informed purchase decisions. Educating the consumer will also benefit producers as consumers will be equipped to shop by category and ultimately compel both retail and the on-premise to recognize the category seriously.

Defining a platform around which all ASMW producers can unify promotes all participating producers. Adhering to the ethics, goals and mission of the ASMWC provides each producer with a categorical platform on which to build brands. Shared space at tasting events (which includes educational materials referencing the participating producers) brings widespread attention to the category while highlighting distinct producers as well.

Ultimately, we desire to see growth of ASMW, both within the United States and abroad. By defining the basic tenets of the category for consumers and the trade, our educational focus can in time shift from an acknowledgment of the category’s existence to a dialogue about how ASMW relates to the rest of the whiskey world. Our work will illustrate what we have in common with other regions, but also provide a baseline from which we can distinguish our category. In the end, the goal is to better compete with other regional single malt brands and categories around the globe based on the merits of our product instead of competing against a lack of knowledge.

The effort being put into this movement is aided by the natural momentum building behind this category. Recognition of ASMW is now at an all-time high, with producers winning awards and competitions outright at the national and global levels. To formally establish this category now signals to the world that not only do we believe in our own distilleries, but we also believe that this country can produce single malt whiskey that is respected and enjoyed around the world.

STANDARD

of

IDENTITY

MADE FROM 100% MALTED BARLEY
DISTILLED ENTIRELY AT ONE DISTILLERY
MASHED, DISTILLED AND MATURED IN
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
MATURED IN OAK CASKS OF A CAPACITY
NOT EXCEEDING 700 LITERS
DISTILLED TO NO MORE THAN 160 (U.S.)
PROOF (80% ALCOHOL BY VOLUME)
BOTTLED AT 80 (U.S.) PROOF OR MORE
(40% ALCOHOL BY VOLUME)

MEMBER PRODUCERS

10th STREET DISTILLERYSan Jose, CA

ADMIRALTY DISTILLERYPort Townsend, WA

ALLTECH BREWING & DISTILLINGLexington, KY

AMALGA DISTILLERYJuneau, AK

ANDALUSIA WHISKEY COBlanco, TX

BALCONES DISTILLINGWaco, TX

BENDISTILLERYBend, OR

BIG BOTTOM DISTILLING, LLCHillsboro, OR

BLACK BUTTON DISTILLINGRochester, NY

BLACK HERON SPIRITSWest Richland, WA

BLUE RIDGE DISTILLINGBostic, NC

BLAUM BROS. DISTILLING CO.Galena, IL

BOGUE SOUND DISTILLERYNewport, NC

BOOT HILL DISTILLERYDodge City, KS

BOSTON HARBOR DISTILLERYBoston, MA

BULL RUN DISTILLERYPortland, OR

CEDAR RIDGE DISTILLERYSwisher, IA

COPPER FOX DISTILLERYSperryville, VA

COPPERWORKS DISTILLING COSeattle, WA

CORSAIR DISTILLERYNashville, TN

COTHERMAN DISTILLING CODunedin, FL

CROWDED BARREL WHISKEY COAustin, TX

DARK ISLAND SPIRITSAlexandria Bay, NY

DEERHAMMER DISTILLING COBuena Vista, CO

THE DAMPFWERK DISTILLERYSt. Louis Park, MO

DISTILLERY 291Colorado Springs, CO

DO GOOD DISTILLERYModesto, CA

DOGFISH HEAD DISTILLERYMilton, DE

FAINTING GOAT SPIRITSGreensboro, NC

FEW SPIRITSEvanston, IL

FIRESTONE&ROBERTSON DISTILLINGFort Worth, TX

FRENCH DISTILLERS & ALCHEMISTSLisle, NY

GOLDEN MOON DISTILLERYGolden, CO

GRATON DISTILLING COMPANYGraton, CA

GREAT WAGON ROAD DISTILLING COCharlotte, NC

HAMILTON DISTILLERSTucson, AZ

HATCH DISTILLERYEgg Harbor, WI

HEADFRAME SPIRITSButte, MT

HENERBERY SPIRITSVista, CA

HIGH PEAKS DISTLIINGLake George, NY

HIGHWAY 101 SPIRITSSan Diego, CA

HOOD RIVER DISTILLERSHood River, OR

HOUSE SPIRITS DISTILLERYPortland, OR

HOTEL TANGO DISTILLERYIndianapolis, IN

HUDSON VALLEY DISTILLERSGermantown, NY

JERSEY SPIRITS DISTILLING COFairfield, NJ

JOHN EMERALD DISTILLING COOpelika, AL

KINGS COUNTY DISTILLERYBrooklyn, NY

LAWS WHISKEY HOUSEDenver, CO

LIBERTY CALL SPIRITSSan Diego, CA

LIBERTY POLE SPIRITSWashington, PA

LIQUID BRANDS DISTILLERYSpokane, WA

LOCH & UNION DISTILLINGAmerican Canyon, CA

LONG ISLAND SPIRITSBaiting Hollow, NY

LOS ANGELES DISTILLERYCulver City, CA

LIQUID RIOTPortland, ME

MAD RIVER DISTILLERSWarren, VT

MAUI BREWING COMPANYKihei, HI

MB ROLANDPembroke, KY

McMENAMINS EDGEFIELDTroutdale, OR

MILLSTONE SPIRITSPhiladelphia, PA

MODISETT & SONS DISTILLERYAustin, TX

NEW HOLLAND SPIRITSHolland, MI

OLD LINE SPIRITSBaltimore, MD

OLD ROUTE TWO SPIRITSBarre, VT

OLD TRESTLE DISTILLERYTruckee, CA

ONE EIGHT DISTILLINGWashington, DC

ORANGE COUNTY DISTILLERYGoshen, NY

PAINTED STAVE DISTILLERYSmyrna, DE

POSTMODERN DISTILLINGKnoxville, TN

PRESERVATION DISTILLERYBardstown, KY

ROCK TOWN DISTILLERYLittle Rock, AR

ROGUE ALES AND SPIRITSPortland, OR

ROUTT DISTILLERYSteamboat Springs, CO

SAN DIEGO DISTILLERYSan Diego, CA

SAN TAN BREWING-DISTILLINGChandler, AZ

SAND CREEK DISTILLERYHugo, CO

SANTA FE SPIRITSSanta Fe, NM

SEVEN CAVES SPIRITSSan Diego, CA

SOLAR SPIRITSRichland, WA

SONOMA COUNTY DISTILLINGRohnert Park, CA

SPIRIT OF TEXASPflugerville, TX

SPIRITS OF SALT LICKWest Baden, IN

SPIRITS OF ST LOUIS DISTILLERYSt Louis, MO

STARK SPIRITS DISTILLERYPasadena, CA

STILLWATER SPIRITS/MOYLAN'SPetaluma, CA

STRANAHAN'SDenver, CO

STUMPY'S SPIRITS CO.Columbia, IL

SUGAR HOUSE DISTILLERYSalt Lake City, UT

SUGAR RIVER DISTILLERYNew Glarus, WI

SWEETGRASS DISTILLERYPortland, ME

TOM'S FOOLERY DISTILLERYChagrin Falls, OH

TRIPLE EIGHT DISTILLERYNantucket, MA

TUTHILLTOWN SPIRITSGardiner, NY

UP NORTH DISTILLERYPost Falls, ID

VAN BRUNT STILLHOUSEBrooklyn, NY

VAPOR DISTILLERYBoulder, CO

VAYA CON DIOS DISTILLERYBenicia, CA

VIRGINIA DISTILLERY COMPANYLovingston, VA

WANDERBACK WHISKEYHood River, OR

WEST FORK WHISKEY COIndianapolis, IN

WESTLAND DISTILLERYSeattle, WA

WHISKEY ACRES DISTILLING CODeKalb, IL

WIGGLY BRIDGE DISTILLERYYork, ME

WITHERSPOON DISTILLERYLewisville, TX

WOOD'S HIGH MOUNTAIN DISTILLERYSalida, CO

XO ALAMBICDayton, WA

If you are a single malt whiskey producer in the United States who would like to join the Commission or an industry member who would like to lend support to our mission, please complete the form below. Once we've added you to our list of supporters you will receive an invitation to join the Commission Forum where you will find news and updates regarding Commission activities and progress.